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New Jersey Devils‘ first playoff berth since 2012 is there for the taking. All they have to do is take it.

Taylor Hall scored two goals and the Devils reduced their magic number for clinching a postseason berth to six points with a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

Any combination of points earned by the Devils or not earned by Florida that total six will complete an improbable ride back to the postseason for the team that finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17.

”It’s a tough time in the year and for a lot of the guys in this room Rasheem Green Color Rush Jersey , they’re going through it for the first time,” said Hall, who is looking to make the playoffs for the first time in his eight-year NHL career. ”It wasn’t a perfect game but we managed to get two points and give ourselves some breathing room.”

Coupled with Florida’s 5-1 loss to Boston earlier in the day, the Devils opened a five-point lead over the Panthers in the race for the second wild-card spot in the conference and moved within a point of idle Philadelphia for the top wild-card spot. The Devils and Flyers each have four games left in the regular season, while the Panthers have five.

”Any win right now is going to be huge and we have to keep it going to give ourselves the best chance to control our own destiny and come out strong in Montreal tomorrow,” said goaltender Keith Kinkaid Buccaneers Authentic Jerseys , who made 27 saves, the last on a one-timer by Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock with 14 seconds to play.

Stefan Noesen and Blake Coleman each had a goal and assist as the Devils won for the seventh time in 10 games (7-2-1).

Tanner Fritz, Anthony Beauvillier and Chris Wagner scored for the Islanders, who have lost 16 of their last 19 (3-12-4). Thomas Greiss made 31 saves in his first game since Feb. 16, when he sustained an ankle injury and went on injured reserve.

”He played great,” Pulock said. ”It was good to see him back. It looks like he didn’t miss a beat Tremaine Edmunds Jersey , so good to see him.”

Hall, who has carried the Devils in a career-best season, broke a 1-all tied 41 seconds into the second period with a fortuitous power-play goal. His shot from the left boards hit off the skate of New York defenseman Adam Pelech in front of the net and deflected past Greiss.

Hall’s 36th goal of the season was magnificent. He picked up a loose puck at his own blue line, flew up the ice into the Islanders zone and then veered to his left and ripped a shot over Greiss’ left shoulder from the left circle to make it 3-1 at 9:08.

”He’s our leader,” Coleman said of Hall. ”He’s been doing it all year, it’s almost routine now for him to score big goals and make big plays. We feed off of it and it’s a reason why we are where we are.”

Beauvillier got New York within one a little more than four minutes later with a power-play shot that was deflected by Devils forward Brian Gibbons past Kinkaid.

Islanders had a chance to tie it late in the period with another power play Cal Clutterbuck Jersey , but Coleman got his third short-handed goal, beating Greiss up high to cap a 2-on-1 with defenseman Mirco Mueller with 1:02 left in the period.

The goal became important when Wagner scored on a deflection in front with 3:36 left in regulation.

Fritz had given the Islanders the lead 75 seconds after the opening faceoff, scoring on a rebound. Neosen tied it at 7:54 scoring in close on a setup by Coleman.

NOTES: The Devils honored hockey historian and television analyst Stan Fischler during the game. A 2007 Lester Patrick Trophy recipient for contributions to hockey in the United States, he is retiring from television coverage in the New York-metropolitan area after this season. He turned 86-years-old on Saturday. … Devils RW Kyle Palmieri left the ice in the third period after being cut under the eye by an inadvertent stick from teammate Andy Greene. Devils coach John Hynes had no update on his condition. … Wagner took out Hall and referee Dan O’Halloran with a check being the Devils net in the first period. … Hall’s 88 points are the fifth most in a season for the Devils, eight less than Patrik Elias’ record of 96 set in 2000-01.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Start the final week of the season at home against Philadelphia on Tuesday night

Devils: Play final back-to-back of season at Montreal on Sunday night.

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More NHL hockey: A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the New York Giants have declined to pick up the fifth-year option of offensive tackle Ereck Flowers' contract.

The Giants would have been on the hook for $12.5 million in 2019 had the Giants exercised the option on the deal Flowers signed as the ninth pick overall in the 2014 draft.

The person spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move.

NFL was the first to report the decision.

Flowers has been the Giants' starting left tackle for the past three seasons, but he has been a disappointment.

General manager Dave Gettleman signed New England Patriots left tackle Nate Solder as a free agent in March. The move meant that Flowers would play right tackle this upcoming season Youth Kerryon Johnson Jersey , but he has not showed up for the team's voluntary workouts this spring.

Flowers recently hired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent. Flowers' father had represented him. His future with the team remains uncertain.

In other moves, the Giants signed defensive tackle A.J. Francis and quarterback Alex Tanney. They also announced they had been awarded cornerback C.J. Goodwin off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals. Goodwin was released on Tuesday.

Goodwin has played in 28 regular-season games with one start for Atlanta and Arizona. He has 12 tackles (11 solo) and two passes defensed.

Francis has played in nine regular-season games over the past three seasons, including six for Washington last season. His most productive game was the 2017 season finale against the Giants, when he had six tackles.

Tanney spent last season on the Tennessee Titans' injured reserve list after breaking his left foot in the preseason finale. He has played in one NFL game, the Titans final game of the 2015 season. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in a loss at Indianapolis.